Croquet Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 155, 29 December 1938, Page 6

Croquet Notes

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COMING TOURNAMENTS.

January o.—South Island championship^ Ashburton. January s.—North Island cham^lon=nips. Auckland.

January' 19.—New Zealand champion .snips. Palmerston North

January 30 —Southern Hawke's Bay tournament, Dannevirke. February 1. -Canterbury tournament Christehurch

February 6. —South Auckland tournament, Hamilton,

February 7. —Wellington champipnships, Lower Hutt. February JUS. -south Taranaki championships, Hawera

February 14.—West Coast tournament, Greymouth.

February 14.—Oiago championships. Uunedin. February 16.—South Canterbury tournament, Timaru.

February 17.—Hawke's Bay tournament, Hastings.

February 1..~-Waxiganui champion ships, Wanganui. v

February 28.—New Zealand Gold and Silver Mallets, Hastings March 2.—Auckland championships. Auckland. March 2.—Taranaki championships, New Plymouth. March 10.—English Gold and Silver Medals Auckland / LITTLE HOLIDAY PLAY. There has been less play this year over the holidays than there has been for several previous years. Although the weather has been most unsuitable, the greens should now be good for the rest of the season, and not ultra keen as some have been in the past. The clubs will be commencing; championship matches shortly and there should be many, completed before the Wellington championships commence; early in February.; V - ..■,!'' .'•'... INTER-CLUB MATCHES. , The weather last week was atrocious and all matches were postponed on Tuesday, and as it was decided at the delegates', meeting to conclude interclub games on December 20, there was no play on' Thursday. This round of matches will be played by mutual arrangement at a date prior to J;he conclusion of all inter-club rounds.. Next week the round will be played on Thursday, not on Tuesday as is usual, and the following is the draw:— ;■ A Grade.-VWaimarie 1 v.. Ngaroma 1; Ngaroma 2 v. Kelburn 1; Kelburh 3 v. Central; Eastbourne v. Kelburn 2; Seatoun v. Hataitai 1;\ Island Bay v. Waimarie 2; Woburn v. Hataitai 2; Wellington 2 v. Lyall Bay; Wellington 1 v. Hutt. ; -..■■,. i Intermediate Grade. —Kelburn 2 v. j Lyall Bay; Ngaroma v. Woburri; Ngaio v. Karori; Mt< Victoria 1 v. INJt Victoria 2; Wellington v. Hataitai; Khandallah v. itelburn 1. < The B grade has now been conclude ed and the results will be published as soon as- available. The half-team matches will not recommence until Friday\of next week and the draw will' be published later. : . ; . .. ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. The North Island championships are this year beini, held at Auckland, and commence on January 5. The ladies' events will this year be played on the yankee principle and should consequently attract large entries as this form of playing is particularly popular. The ' tournament *is in the hands of Mrs. A.H. Keesing, assisted by Mrs. Finch, and entries should be sent in as soon as possible. The South Island championships are being held at Ashburton and will commence on the same day 'as the North Island event. The management will be in the hands of Mrs. D. McLennan, of Timaru, who, will, be assisted by Mrs., Ruccock. , ASSOCIATION TROPHIES. The games for the Pollock Stars, Association Ferns, and the McKenzie: Cups will- recommence at the same time as the inter-club matches, and should be played within one week of that date. The holders of the Stars are the Island Bay Club (Mesdames Green and Winchcomb). The Association Ferns are held by the Ngaio Club (Mesdames Guy and Furness),- and the McKenzie Cups by the* Seatoun Club (Mesdames Oldfield and Morrison). ' ISLAND BAY CLUB. The Island Bay Club members held a most enjoyable Christmas party in the pavilion recently when there was a good attendance. As the weather was not good outdoor competitions were abandoned and an interesting programme was arranged for indoors. The pavilion was gaily decorated for the occasion, and the thanks of the club members were expressed to Mrs. Hale who provided streamers; etc., and superintended the arrangements. Mrs. Hale also provided baskets of sweets for each member of the club.. The Christmas cake was given by the president, Mrs. Winchcomb, and Mrs Payne kindly provided some of the refreshments. Musical- items were rendered by Mesdames Croft, Woodham, and Payne. The competitions were keenly contested and were won b|* Mesdames Winchcomb, Kavanagh, and Nelson, the last-named being a,visito* from Vancouver. The holders of thf Pollock Stars were accorded musical honours, and at the close of the afternoon Mrs. Small, vice-president, thanked Mrs. Winchcomb for her good wishes. The singing of Auld Lang Syne brought the /arty to a close. HUTT CLUB. The members oi the Hutt Croquet Club spent a most.. enjoyable time at their annual Christmas party. The pavilion was £aily decorated with the club colours and the Christmas tree laden with gifts was the centre of attraction during the afternoon; TMe flowers on the tables were supplied and arranged by Mrs. Piper, and included in the delicious afternoon tea was a beautifully decorated Christmas cake given by Mrs. Woods, and a large cream cake given by Mrs. King. Other mementoes of the occasion were supi plied by Miss D f McKenzie and took the form of quaint paintings.. Competitions were held and were won by Mesdames Pipdr, King, Tamblyn, and Miss D. McKenzie. ' . . ' Among the- guests were the president and vice-president of the Hutt Bowling Club, Mr. J. Fletcher and Mr. F. Hewer, and also the associate and honorary members of the clvb v TOURNAMENT PLAY. Now that the matches and tournaments will be. commencing shortly as jmuch practice as possible should be arranged. The -best form of practice is.to .correct a weak shot or stroke. In the case of a pass roll, this, and this only, '•■ should be done uhtif perfected, in order that when playing in matches this stroke fyecomes one of the easy strokes in the game. The' same applies to all other strokes, but it is never advisable to practice a' four-ball break, A two-ball and a three-ball break is excellent ,and cannot be executed in practice too often.

The game of croquet is going through rapid stages of evolution, and is now regarded as one of the most scientific and difficult of outdoor sports. To the good player and the understanding onlooker the game is full of interest and

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pleasure, and very often excitement. The standard oi play has improved considerably during the past few years and it is no uncommon sight to see players on all lawns making substantial breaks—in fact one often' tires of seeing these excellent rounds and looks for more thrills in the game.

These added attractions to the game in the form of quadruple peels, triple peels, and even double peels create a great deal of interest and command the, admiration of the spectators, for they are the finer points, and although being practised more frequently than a few years ago, are not as common as in England, where the players have been playing for a much longer period. The single peel of the .opponent's ball and the resultant peg-out are frequently done on, the lawns in tournament play here, and it is no uncommon sight to see a player with a lone ball being repeatedly "wired" while the opponent carefully plans to make each hoop without giving the handicapped player a chance even to hit in.

In the larger tournaments in the Dominion the players have advanced so rapidly that it is impossible to fore-j cast a possible winner. On good lawns J the player who is the first to get con-| trol, often with two all-rounders, finishes without the opponent beingable to score. At the Dominion tournament this season onlookers. are promised some excellent games as the lawns are almost perfect, and with a well set out break it is almost impossible not to make the required number of points in the round and finish with a wire. On the other hand, of course, there is more possibility of the outplayer hitting in, but this all adds to the interest of" the match. Personals. Mrs. Meikle, vice-president of the South Auckland Association, is spending the. holidays in Dunedin. Mrs. Cole, a well-known minus player, who has for many years been residing in Dunedin, is leaving shortly to take up her residence; in WanganuL

The many friends of Mrs. .Walker (Woburn Club) regret to he^r that her father recently passed away in Sydney, and they extend their sympathy to the family. Mr. McGill was an enthusiastic onlooker. M many of the tournaments, and took a great interest in' the game. <